How the NHS ‘soup and shake’ diet puts type 2 diabetes into remission | Technology News
A new study has shown that completely removing common foods from your diet for three months significantly reduced rates of type 2 diabetes.
Patients were given pre-prepared soups and milkshakes, as well as special chocolate bars, and asked to eat only these foods for the first 12 weeks of a year-long program.
A new study published in the journal Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology found that nearly a third of people who completed the program successfully put their diabetes into remission.
NHS England said the study shows its type 2 diabetes remission programme could benefit “thousands” of people with the condition.
Three months of “total diet replacement” appears to have a dramatic effect on weight loss, as one might expect, thereby reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
The move has been hailed as a way to tackle rising rates of diabetes in the UK, which cost the NHS around £10 billion a year.
Should I start eating soups and shakes then?
Although some have successfully reversed their diabetes, diet is still not a magic cure, as the study’s statistics show.
Of the 7,540 people who participated in the program between September 2020 and the end of 2022, only 945 completed it and provided blood samples.
Of these 945 patients, 32% had entered remission, which was defined as average blood glucose (sugar) levels over a given period, with an average weight loss of 15.9 kg.
Thus, two-thirds of people who completed the program still suffered from type 2 diabetes at the end of it, even though they were able to see health benefits.
More worryingly, and perhaps understandably, most people did not or could not complete the study.
What is the NHS soup and shake diet?
Three months of consuming 800 to 1,200 calories a day of ready-made soups and shakes (designed to provide the necessary balance of nutrients, vitamins and minerals) is not for everyone.
It’s a low amount of calories, which is always tricky if you have other things going on in your life besides diet, like work, parenting, or really anything.
Then there’s the lack of food other than soup powder and protein bars, which you’ll probably get sick of after a week or two.
After three months, you can return to a normal, real diet again, while following a diet that applies for the remaining nine months.
For those willing to persevere, the results appear promising.
Dinner is served: NHS diet menu consisting of soup and shake
An example of past TMR diet recommendations shows that typical meals for someone following the diet might include:
- Chocolate flavored skim milk and soy protein blend (145 kcal)
- Soup mix with skim milk and soy protein with chicken and mushroom flavor (138 kcal)
- Mixture of skimmed milk and whole grains (149 kcal)
- Soy and milk protein bar with lemon flavor, coated with a yogurt flavored coating (150 kcal)
The announcement comes after the diet generated a lot of hype when it was first prescribed in 2020 following encouraging trials.
Now, the soup and milkshake train shows no signs of slowing down, as they will now be available nationwide.
Can I buy NHS diet soup and shake?
Yes, you can buy something similar.
People prescribed the diet by the NHS will receive their food and have scheduled checks on how it is going.
But you can also buy the soups and shakes yourself, but be careful if you’re embarking on a restrictive diet and talk to your doctor about any concerns.
Companies such as Altralife and Optifast UK have supplied the NHS with diet products, which are also available to buy to the general public.
Who is eligible for the NHS scheme?
More than 25,000 people have already adopted the soup and shake diet since it launched in 2020 and the UK government is committing £13 million this year to ensure more people can benefit.
Adults aged 18 to 65 can register if they have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the last six years and have a body mass index greater than 27 (if white) or greater than 25 (if black, Asian or other minority ethnic).
Dr Clare Hambling, clinical director of diabetes and obesity at the NHS, said the programme “can have a huge impact on participants’ lives”.
She said: “We know that obesity is one of the biggest threats to health in the UK and will be one of the biggest and most costly challenges to health systems globally. That’s why the encouraging results from our programme show that obesity can be tackled head on, and we look forward to considering any further expansion of this programme in due course.”
Dr Elizabeth Robertson, Director of Research at Diabetes UK, said: “We hope to see even more people benefit from the programme in the coming years and an increase in referrals to the programme, particularly for people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and in younger people, where the impact of type 2 diabetes and remission is greatest.”
Contact our press team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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